Interestingly, our causal network analysis for the top 50 inhibited signaling further showed that endothelial MerTK deficiency effectively blocks the effects of MAPK inhibitors, including SB203580 (a potent inhibitor of p38 MAPK) [26] (Fig. 7B). In addition to MAPK signaling and TGFβ signaling, our causal network analysis identified several microRNAs (miR) involved in endothelial MerTK deficiency-mediated atherosclerosis. This evidence concerns the gene MERTK and atherosclerosis.